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Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are educational institutions whose mission and enrollment have long centered on Black students.
Although there are over 100 HBCUs in the U.S., just four currently operate medical schools (often called HBMSs): Howard, Meharry, Morehouse, and Charles R. Drew. Two more, at Morgan State and Xavier Ochsner, are on the way.
If you feel you’ll fit in better at an HBCU medical program, our guide can help you determine which one best suits your goals and preferences.
The Four Current Historically Black Medical Schools (HBMSs)
Currently, there are four HBSMs. All four offer MD programs for physicians studying allopathic medicine. No existing HBCU med schools offer osteopathic medical degrees for DO physicians, although Morgan State University has plans to start a program within the next few years.
Let’s talk about tuition, student body size, and more at the top HBCU medical schools across the country as you explore your options in your med school journey.
Note: Estimates for tuition and fees reflect direct costs of attendance for the 2025-2026 school year. Demographic data reflects enrollment numbers from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) taken in October for the 2023-2024 school year.
1. Howard University College of Medicine
Tuition and Fees: $60,924
Size of Student Body: 514
Howard University was established in Washington, D.C., in 1867. The Howard University College of Medicine was founded in 1968. The college is responsible for a sizable portion of Black physicians working today and throughout the past 150 years. Among the four HBMSs, Howard’s medical program is the largest.
Below is the estimated racial breakdown of students at Howard’s medical school:
- 67% Black or African-American
- 12% Multiple Race/Ethnicity
- 8% Asian
- 5% Non-U.S. Citizen/Non-U.S. Permanent Resident
- 3% Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
- 3% Other/Unknown
- 2% White
2. Meharry Medical College
Tuition and Fees: $64,670
Size of Student Body: 499
Founded in 1976, Meharry Medical College is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Meharry has a School of Medicine, a School of Dentistry, and a School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Below is the estimated racial breakdown of the Meharry Medical College student body:
- 75% Black or African-American
- 7% Asian
- 7% Multiple Race/Ethnicity
- 6% White
- 2% Other/Unknown
- 1% Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
- 1% Non-U.S. Citizen/Non-U.S. Permanent Resident
Read about how MedSchoolCoach partners with Meharry to support their medical students and prepare them for residency.
3. Morehouse School of Medicine
Tuition and Fees: $67,314
Size of Student Body: 502
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) was established in 1975 as part of Morehouse College (est. 1867), but MSM became independent in 1981. The prestigious medical degree program, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is generally the most selective among the HBCUs.
MSM has received accolades for supporting a high proportion of graduates who practice primary care, work in health professional shortage areas, and are underrepresented minorities.
Below is the estimated racial breakdown of MSM’s student body:
- 74% Black or African-American
- 8% Asian
- 8% Multiple Race/Ethnicity
- 5% White
- 4% Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
- 2% Other/Unknown
4. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Tuition and Fees: $69,000 (CDU’s MD Program)
Size of Student Body: 88 (28 in a joint program with UCLA + 60 in the independent MD program)
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) was established in Los Angeles County, California, in 1966, as a direct response to the Watts Riots of 1965. The six days of unrest in South Central Los Angeles exposed deep inequities in the city, including a lack of access to quality healthcare for the area’s largely Black community.
The university’s mission was to educate health professionals dedicated to serving underrepresented communities, a legacy it continues to uphold today.
The university offers degrees in three colleges: Medicine, Science and Health, and Nursing. Since 1978, CDU has partnered with UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. Up to 28 CDU students complete their first two years of medical school at UCLA, and then finish their final two years of clinical work at CDU.
In 2023, CDU began a new Doctor of Medicine (MD) program separate from its joint program with UCLA. Once that first class of MD students graduates, CDU can attain full LCME accreditation.
Below is the estimated racial breakdown of CDU’s independent MD program:
- 50% Black or African-American
- 20% Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
- 15% Multiple Race/Ethnicity
- 7% Other/Unknown
- 5% Asian
- 2% White
Use our free Med School Explorer tool to compare medical programs side by side. Check average GPA and MCAT scores, tuition, class size, secondary essays, interview formats, and more, all in one place.
Two Future HBMSs
To address the shortage of HBMSs in the U.S., two more HBCUs are expanding into the medical field. Morgan State University plans to open its medical school within the next two years, while Xavier University of Louisiana is preparing to welcome its first class soon after. Both schools aim to strengthen representation and access for future Black physicians.
1. The Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine
Morgan State University is an HBCU established in 1867 in Baltimore, Maryland. The new Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine (MDCOM) is expected to open to students within the next few years. (Initial plans to open a campus by 2024 were delayed after initial funding fell through.)
Morgan State was one of the first HBCUs after the Civil War. After the coronavirus pandemic and societal shifts following George Floyd’s murder, the university sought to expand their mission to train diverse medical professionals through MDCOM.
This HBMS will be the first historically Black higher education institution to offer a degree in osteopathic medicine (DO).
2. Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine
Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is the only Catholic HBCU in the U.S. It was established in 1925 by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. About 79% of its students are Black, with a good portion coming from the New Orleans area.
On April 29, 2024, Xavier and Ochsner Health officially announced their partnership to establish a new allopathic medical school, Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM). The school is planning to seek LCME accreditation, which may take around three years, and recruit an initial class of about 50 students. No firm opening date has been publicized yet.
Read Next: The Best Medical Schools for Non-Traditional Applicants
The History of HBCUs
Racism runs deep within American institutions, and the history of Black medical colleges reflects how systemic racism can operate even under the guise of “good intentions.”
In 1910, educator Abraham Flexner published the Flexner Report, commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation to evaluate medical schools across the United States. While the report aimed to raise educational standards, it had devastating consequences for Black medical education.
Flexner wrote that, “[Black people need] good schools rather than many schools.” He concluded that five of the seven existing Black medical schools were “in no position to make any contribution of value.”
As a result, those five institutions closed, leaving only the Howard University College of Medicine and Meharry Medical College, the two schools Flexner deemed “worth developing.”
Defenders of Flexner argue that he intended to ensure higher educational quality, not to suppress opportunity, but the long-term outcome was undeniable. His recommendations severely reduced the number of Black physicians and limited access to healthcare in Black communities.
It wasn’t until 56 years after the Flexner Report that a third HBMS opened in America: Charles R. Drew University. Today, only four HBMSs exist, though two more are expected soon.
Researchers estimate that if the Flexner Report had not led to the closure of those schools, there could be over 27,000 additional Black doctors practicing today. The hope is that the expansion of HBMSs will help reverse some of that historic loss, improving both healthcare access and representation in underserved communities.
Learn more about the history of HBMSs and the impact of Flexner:
- The Disappearance of Black Men From Medicine: A Consequence of Racism and the Flexner Report
- HBCUs and the Production of Doctors
- HBCUs Are an Undervalued Resource for Addressing the US Physician Shortage
- Perspectives on Medical School Admission for Black Students Among Premedical Advisers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- The Role of Historically Black College and University Medical Schools in Academic Medicine
Benefits of Attending an HBCU
Attending diverse medical schools and HBCUs offers unique advantages compared with predominantly white institutions (PWIs):
- Personalized Support: HBCUs often have smaller class sizes, allowing for more individualized attention from faculty and staff. This personalized mentorship helps students excel academically and prepare them for life after college.
- Representation and Cultural Affirmation: At an HBCU, Black students see themselves reflected in faculty, leadership, and the curriculum. This fosters a strong sense of identity, confidence, and belonging.
- Supportive Peer Networks: Students benefit from a community of peers who share similar cultural experiences. This can mean stronger friendships, collaborative learning opportunities, and emotional support throughout college.
- Professional Opportunities: HBCUs maintain extensive alumni networks and mentoring programs. This can help students secure internships, residencies, and long-term career advancement.
- Commitment to Serving Underserved Communities: Many HBCUs emphasize social responsibility and community engagement. Graduates become advocates for health disparities, ready to contribute meaningfully to historically marginalized populations.
Read Next: The Ultimate Guide to Medical School Scholarships
Medical Schools Leading in Black Student Representation
Black students comprise about 10% of the medical school student body at many PWIs, and that’s on the high end. These non-HBCU schools, including some of the top medical schools in the country and the best pre-med schools, beat that average:
- Emory School of Medicine: 18%
- East Carolina University (Brody School of Medicine): 18%
- Wright State University (Boonshoft School of Medicine): 16%
- University of Chicago (Pritzker School of Medicine): 15%
- University of California San Francisco: 14%
- Columbia University (Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons): 13%
- University of California Los Angeles (David Geffen School of Medicine): 13%
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine: 13%
- Brown University (Warren Alpert Medical School): 12%
- Duke University School of Medicine: 12%
- Temple University (Lewis Katz School of Medicine): 12%
- University of California Riverside College of Medicine: 12%
- University of Illinois College of Medicine: 12%
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine: 11%
Note: Demographic data reflects enrollment numbers from the AAMC taken in October for the 2023-2024 school year.
Where We Are Now, and Where We’re Headed
Black Americans make up about 14% of the U.S. population but only 5% of practicing physicians. Enrollment in medical schools has historically been stagnant: Black applicants comprised roughly 7% of total applicants in 1970 and just 8% in 2016.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Black medical students has increased somewhat, peaking in 2021, but has been inconsistent since. Yearly first-year enrollment percentages look like this:
- 2016-2017: 8.2%
- 2018-2019: 7.1%
- 2019-2020: 7.4%
- 2020-2021: 9.5%
- 2021-2022: 11.4%
- 2022-2023: 10.2%
- 2023-2024: 10.0%
- 2024-2025: 10.3%
To address systemic inequities, Black enrollment in medical schools should reach at least 14% to better reflect the population and improve access to culturally competent care. Increasing representation isn’t just about fairness. It strengthens the healthcare system by ensuring diverse perspectives and improving patient outcomes in underserved communities.
FAQs
The average MCAT scores for students entering HBCU medical schools range from 504 to 509, which is slightly below the national average for all medical schools in the U.S. A “good” score depends heavily on the school you’ve chosen to apply to, in addition to other factors on your primary application.
While these schools may appear slightly easier to get into based on MCAT averages, admission remains highly competitive. (Morehouse is generally most selective based on acceptance rates.)
All of these programs emphasize holistic review, meaning they value things like community service, leadership, and a commitment to underserved populations as much as your test scores.
Applying to an HBCU medical school follows the same general process as applying to any American program. You complete the AMCAS application and submit your transcripts, MCAT scores, personal statement, and letters of recommendation.
From there, many HBCU medical schools also look closely at experiences that demonstrate commitment to underserved communities, leadership, and resilience. In secondary applications and in your interview, it’s important to highlight why an HBCU is a good fit for you academically, culturally, and professionally. Those pieces are essential if you want to be a standout applicant.
A medical degree from an HBCU opens the same doors as one from any accredited U.S. medical school, with the added perks of an education often focused on equity and community health.
Graduates can pursue any medical specialty, apply for competitive residencies nationwide, and take on leadership roles. Many graduates go on to work in underserved communities or in public health, where their training in culturally competent care is especially valuable.
Double Your Chances of Acceptance
Navigating medical school admissions, whether you’re thinking about an HBCU or a PWI, can be challenging. Scheduling a free consultation with our enrollment team gives you personalized guidance on topics like improving your MCAT scores and crafting a competitive application.
We can help you identify schools that fit your goals in medical school and beyond, and increase your chances of acceptance.
Sahil Mehta MD
Dr. Mehta is the founder of MedSchoolCoach and has guided thousands of successful medical school applicants. He is also a practicing physician in Boston where he specializes in vascular and interventional radiology.
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